Warwan valley Loop Trek
Warwan Trek is one of the eight ancient Transhimalayan traverses that transcend from Ladakh (Suru Valley) to Kashmir Himalayas. Known as the salt route, for centuries Trans Himalayan traders from Kashmir and Ladakh have passed through here.
This version of the Warwan trek is a loop that involves crossing two highly adventures passes called “Bobang Gali” and “Lomvilad Gali” which run parallel to each other from Suru valley into Warwan valley. We will start the trek in Suru valley and end in again in Suru valley in a loop format. This trail is sure to keep your spirits and adrenaline high with what it has to offer. The trail has plenty of rare wild flowers and wildlife such the omnipresent Himalayan Marmots, Asiatic Ibex, Brown Fox and if lucky the rare Himalayan Brown Bear. You will be crossing many icy cold streams and doing glacier traverses at Bobang and Lomvilad Gali. You will also get a unique opportunity to get up close and interact with an ancient, nomadic tribe called “Bakarwals”. These valleys have been their summer abode for centuries.
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Tour StartsLeh/Srinagar
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Tour EndsSrinagar/Leh
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Style of TourTrekking (7 days)
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Max Altitude4756 m
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Approx Trekking86 kms
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Trek DifficultyHard to Sterneous
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No of Passes2 (Bobang and Lomvilad La)
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Best SeasonMay to October
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StaysHotel in Kargil and Srinagar, organized Camping on treks
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MealsBreakfast and Dinner in Hotel, All meals on the trek
Day 1: Arrive in Leh & Leave for Kargil
- Pick up from Airport and drive to Kargil (5 hours)
- Lunch Enroute
- Evening for leisure
- Overnight at hotel in Kargil
Day 2: Aclimatization day and local sightseeing
- After an early breakfast, we will drive to Hundurman which is border settlement on the LoC between India and Pakistan and check out the Hundurman Museum
- Visit to Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, a family run museum that had preserved the silk route history of Kargil
- Post lunch, explore Kargil bazaar
- Dinner and overnight at hotel
Day3: Drive from Kargil (2600m) to Panikhar (3225m). Trek from Panikhar to Chumik (3625m)
- After an early breakfast, drive from Kargil to the basecamp in Maita, Panikhar
- Today, the trail follows Chalong nala upstream and gains altitude gradually
- Our first drinking water source comes 2 and half hours into the trail.
- We will cover a short distance today and camp at Chumik, a spring water source.
Day 4: Trek from Chumik to Parpalo (3878m)
- Today is again going to be an easy day
- Trail continues upstream through a well defined stone trail
- There are some small stream crossings along the way depending on the time of the year
- You will meet a lot of locals and Bakarwals in the summer on the trail as these valleys serve as the summer pastureland for their livestock
- Water sources are not always safe to drink here as they could carry lot of bacteria
- Midway, the trail will emerge at Deonardo where Bobang and Lomvilad gully merge creating a spectacular river basin with green flat lands and snowcapped peaks in the backdrop.
- Here you will find many Bakarwal deras. Beware of Bakarwal dogs.
- From here we will take the right bank of the river and continue towards Bobang gully
- Arrive at Parpalo by late afternoon which also has an ideal camping site by the water surrounded by small glaciers
Day 5: Trek from Parpalo to Shirmal (4127m)
- Today the trail will be a mix of flat grounds and moraines
- There will be stream crossing and snow bridge crossing
- We will begin by 9 am after breakfast
- Reach Shirmal camping ground by afternoon
- This is one of most beautiful camping grounds on the entire trek as we will be camping by the river stream with Bobang peak in front for a view
- Covering only a short distance today will give the body and mind some time to rest and acclimatize for the next days’ traverse
Day 6: Trek from Shirmal to Kanital Nard (3908m) via Bobang La (4756m)
- Today is one of the two hardest days of the trek as we will be traversing Bobang pass
- We will be traversing a 700m long glacier and there is very less or no trail so we will be carefully treading the sharp ascent with the help of the local trail guide.
- Since this pass is not pony friendly we will shed some of our load here and carry enough gear for one night of camping once we cross the pass and reach Kanital Nard
- Our ponies will take the Lomvilad pass to meet us at Kanital camping ground on day 5
- The ascend starts with a steep uphill next to a glacier through loose rocks and boulders till you reach a rocky plateau near the snout of another glacier.
- From here we have to traverse this glacier field to reach the top of the pass. It is an easy traverse as there are no big crevasses
- The descend from Bobang top is short but steep with loose rocks and boulders
- After walking over a moraine crest we will hit the green patch into Warwan valley.
- Soon you will realize the sudden change in the landscape from stark mountains to green valleys, marking your entry into Kashmir Himalayas
- We will be setting up camp near a Bakarwal Dera tonight.
Day 7: Trek from Kanital Nard to Kanital camping ground (3487m)
- Today again the trail is fairly flat and easy along the green valleys of Kanital
- We will start early at 8 after breakfast and bidding goodbye to our hosts
- After walking for about an hour a 300m descend will bring us to the small lake of Kanital at the junction of Lomvilad and Bobang pass
- We will take left and keep walking towards the Kanital camping ground
- The flat walk and the mesmerizing beauty of Kanital will keep your spirits high
- We will reach the camping grounds near the base of Lomvilad gully where our ponies will be waiting for us
- We will set up camp here and spend the night in tents
- Enjoy and take in the beauty of this unexplored valley in the evening
- Get an early sleep as we will doing our second hardest trek through the Lomvilad pass
Day 8: Trek from Kanital to Kalapari (3929m) via Lomvilad Gully (4402m)
- Today is the longest and the hardest day on the trek but the most rewarding of all
- We will start very early at 6 am after a healthy breakfast
- Two we will be crossing two massive glaciers
- Once at Lomvilad top the snow field and the glacial lake is a sight to remember
- This traverse will bring us back into Suru valley in the Ladakh Himalayas
- We will reach our camp in Kalapari by evening
Day 9: Trek from Kalapari to Panikhar and drive to Kargil
- Today is the last day of our trek and we will descending down towards Panikhar
- We will start early at early by 7am after a good breakfast
- After walking for an hour we will reach Deonardo basin
- Here we will have to cross a few streams to reach the left side of the river bank
- From here we will follow the trail to reach our pick up point in Panikhar
- Congratulations!
- Reach Kargil by evening and check into hotel
Day 10: Drive from Kargil to Leh/Srinagar
- Early morning after breakfast leave for Leh
- Check into guest house by evening
- Evening for leisure
- INCLUSIONS
- EXCLUSIONS
- ADDITIONAL INFO
- Airport pick up and drop
- Journey to and From Kargil
- Trek point transfers
- Transport for sightseeing
- Breakfast and dinner at hotel in Kargil
- All meals on the trek
- Twin sharing rooms at hotel
- Dome tents on trek
- Camping gear (sleeping bags, mattress, two man dome tents, toilet tent, dining tent)
- Safety gear (ropes, ice axe, micro spikes)
- Onsite first aid
- Oxygen cylinder
- Trained and experienced guide/trek leader
- Kitchen and support staff
- Porters, Mules
- Trekking permits
- Camping charges
- Single room accommodation
- Lunch during stay in Kargil and Srinagar
- Meals while on the road
- Personal equipment such as walking sticks, rain coats, gloves etc
- International & Domestic flight fares, visa charges
- Monument/monastery and Museum visit fee
- Any expenses of personal nature such as mineral water, laundry.
- Cost incurred due to emergency evacuation
- Any kind of insurance, such as accident, theft, medical, evacuation etc.
- Personal Mules & porters. You can request for one in advance while booking
- Tips to porters, camping team, driver, guide, etc.
- Cost incurred due to change / extension in the itinerary due to roadblocks, bad weather condition, flight delays, vehicle breakdowns, etc.
- We have a zero trash tolerance policy. We always clean up after ourselves on all hikes and trips
- We use portable T3 tents and portable toilets and wash basins at our campsite which are cleared and wrapped up at the end of each journey.
- Our camp locations are temporary and we don’t keep any permanent fixtures at the location. We say no to plastics
- Be Local – there is no harm learning at few local words while you are there. It always helps in building a rapport with the locals and blend in. Try to eat and buy locally. Carry your own water bottles.
- We use comfortable mattresses with -10degree sleeping bags
- There is no electricity at most of our campsites as they are at remote locations. We use solar powered tent lamps.
- Our trips require a moderate level of fitness.
- The maximum altitude for treks can go upto 6100m
- Drink lot of water to stay hydrated and to avoid mountain sickness
- We always carry a first aid kid and a portable oxygen canisters for emergencies
- Average of two guides are provided for a group of 10 people
- We respect the local traditions and customs. We will always brief you regarding these each time you travel to a different location. We encourage you to be open and free while travelling to these locations and invite you to explore the region in its true sense.
- We focus on engaging local communities in our work to create livelihoods locally. Most of our camps/homestays are managed by the local villagers and local youth is engaged as guides/hosts
- We organize workshops to train local communities and youth for technical training in mountain guiding, hospitality and responsible tourism. If you are interested in contributing, do let us know.
- Valid ID proof (Passport/Voter ID/Drivers Licence)
- No suitcases. Opt for 70 to 90 litre backpacks
- Water-proof trekking shoes
- One down jacket or warmer for chilly nights
- Rain poncho or jacket/windcheater (a must!)
- Thermal inner (not advisable to wear it while trekking)
- Trekking pants (one spare)
- Sun block
- Hat
- Sun goggles
- Trekking pole
- Spare under garments and socks (three pairs max)
- Flashlight with extra batteries (preferably wearable)
- Water bottle, preferably wide mouthed, with at least one litre capacity
- Personal toiletries
- Power bank (if you want to use phone camera)
- That book you’ve been meaning to read
- You are expected to carry your own luggage. If you need a porter/mule during treks please inform us in advance.
- Delays are expected on account of roadblock & weather conditions. Our effort will be to continue with the trip as per the schedule & make you as comfortable as possible. But in such situations we may have to compromise on the campsite & adjust to these situations then & there. The final call will be taken by our Lead Guide on location.
- The itinerary should be viewed as ideal & we may have to make some spot changes due various unavoidable reasons.
- The distances & altitude mentioned in the above itinerary are to the best of our knowledge & information; marginal variance in the actual distances & altitudes is possible.
- You are expected to be in reasonable shape and fitness, being able to walk for several hours at a normal pace as well as to take care of your own equipment.
- You are required to produce a Medical Fitness certificate before starting the trip.
- The minimum age restriction for this trip is 18
- All outdoor related activities involve a certain level of risk. You are expected to sign an Indemnity Form in agreement to the risks involved through partaking in such outdoor activities.
- Roots Ladakh reserves the right and permission to use photographs of individuals and photographs submitted by them on tour for use in promotional and publicity purposes